Fantasy baseball players in the news

1B | Chris McGuiness | Texas Rangers | FantasyTexas Rangers 1B Chris McGuiness, one of the team's rising prospects, fell a triple shy of the cycle and drove in three runs as Surprise beat Peoria, 8-4, for its first win of the season in Arizona Fall League action. McGuiness, who had 23 homers and 77 RBIs for Double-A Frisco this year, went 4-for-5 with an RBI double in the third inning and a two-run homer in the fourth a day after going hitless in his AFL debut.

Second Baseman

2B | Ryan Flaherty | Baltimore Orioles | FantasyBaltimore Orioles 2B Ryan Flaherty hit a solo home run in the third inning in Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees Wednesday, Oct. 10. It was the first homer by an Orioles rookie in the club's 58-year history. Of course, in the fifth inning, fellow first-year player SS Manny Machado also launched a solo shot.

2B | Danny Espinosa | Washington Nationals | FantasyWashington Nationals manager Davey Johnson isn't worried about 2B Danny Espinosa's 1-for-6 start to the National League Division Series with three strikeouts. "He's just a young hitter, aggressive, tons of talent," Johnson said about Espinosa. "He just needs to stay within himself. He's made a lot of strides this year. The conditions in St. Louis were pretty tough. ... My guys, to a man, all had problems picking up the ball and the spin on the ball."

SS | Manny Machado | Baltimore Orioles | FantasyBaltimore Orioles SS Manny Machado swatted a solo home run in the fifth inning in Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees Wednesday, Oct. 10. He is the second-youngest player in Major League Baseball history to hit a postseason homer, and the youngest ever in American League history. Although not on the Yankees playoff roster, OF Andruw Jones, who homered at age 19, was in the dugout for the home team. Jones did it at the old Yankees Stadium in 1996 while a member of the Atlanta Braves.

SS | Derek Jeter | New York Yankees | Injury, Fantasy
Updating a previous report, New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Wednesday, Oct. 10, that he was uncertain if SS Derek Jeter (ankle) will play in Game 4 of the American League Division Series against the Baltimore Orioles. Jeter hurt himself on a foul ball in the first inning.

3B | Michael Young | Texas Rangers | FantasyTexas Rangers team president Nolan Ryan said he expects 3B/DH Michael Young to return to the club in some capacity. "Yes, I do. Michael is our veteran player. He played a role this year as DH and as the ultimate utility man for us, and so do I expect him back? Yeah. And do I think he'll play that role? Yeah, I do in some degree in that role," Ryan told KESN-FM (103.3) in Dallas.

3B | Alex Rodriguez | New York Yankees | FantasyNew York Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez was hitless in three at-bats with two strikeouts in Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Baltimore Orioles Wednesday, Oct. 10. In the ninth inning, he was lifted for pinch-hitter OF Raul Ibanez, who delivered a solo homer to tie the game and force extra innings. Ibanez then won it in the 12th inning with another solo shot. It was the fourth straight postseason game which Rodriguez had two or more strikeouts.

3B | Wilson Betemit | Baltimore Orioles | Injury, Fantasy, Baltimore Orioles 3B Wilson Betemit (wrist) and SP Zach Britton could both return to play in the ALCS should the team advance past the New York Yankees. Betemit has been serving as the designated hitter in instructional league games in Florida, and he'll play third base Thursday, Oct. 11. Britton tossed three innings in a simulated game Tuesday, Oct. 9, and he could be an option to start.

3B | Eric Chavez | New York Yankees | FantasyNew York Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez, who is 1-for-9 with five strikeouts in the first two games of the American League Division Series, is still in the No. 3 spot in the batting order for Game 3 Wednesday, Oct. 10. He'll serve as the designated hitter, with 3B Eric Chavez playing third base and batting ninth.

C | Tim Federowicz | Los Angeles Dodgers | FantasyLos Angeles Dodgers C Tim Federowicz could serve as the backup to C A.J. Ellis next season. Federowicz hit .294 with 11 home runs, 76 RBIs and a .371 on-base percentage with Triple-A Albuquerque. "We have much more confidence in him than we did a year ago," general manager Ned Colletti said. "Not that we didn't a year ago, but his experience is vastly greater."

Outfielder

OF | Josh Reddick | Oakland Athletics | FantasyOakland Athletics OF Josh Reddick has struck out eight times in the four American League Division Series games against the Detroit Tigers, setting an Oakland record for most in a postseason series.

OF | Raul Ibanez | New York Yankees | FantasyNew York Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez was hitless in three at-bats with two strikeouts in Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Baltimore Orioles Wednesday, Oct. 10. In the ninth inning, he was lifted for pinch-hitter OF Raul Ibanez, who delivered a solo homer to tie the game and force extra innings. Ibanez then won it in the 12th inning with another solo shot. It was the fourth straight postseason game which Rodriguez had two or more strikeouts.

OF | Quintin Berry | Detroit Tigers | FantasyDetroit Tigers OF Quintin Berry is hitting second in the order for Game 4 of the American League Division Series Wednesday, Oct. 10.

OF | Matt Holliday | St. Louis Cardinals | Injury, FantasySt. Louis Cardinals OF Matt Holliday (leg) left the game after fouling a ball off his left leg in the eighth inning of the NLDS Wednesday, Oct. 10.

OF | Hunter Pence | San Francisco Giants | Injury, FantasySan Francisco Giants OF Hunter Pence (cramps) is in the starting lineup for Game 4 of the National League Division Series Wednesday, Oct. 10.

SP | Hiroki Kuroda | New York Yankees | Fantasy, New York Yankees SP Hiroki Kuroda allowed two earned runs, five hits and a walk over 8 1/3 innings in a no-decision in Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Baltimore Orioles. He struck out three batters in the 105-pitch quality start.

SP | Joe Saunders | Baltimore Orioles | Fantasy, Baltimore Orioles SP Joe Saunders will start in Game 4 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, manager Buck Showalter confirmed after the team's Game 3 loss. Saunders is 3-1 with a 5.82 ERA in six career starts against the Yankees, and he has pitched just once in the Bronx, way back on Aug. 11, 2006.

SP | Phil Hughes | New York Yankees | Fantasy, New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi said SP Phil Hughes will start Game 4 of the American League Division Series Thursday, Oct. 11, even if the team loses Game 3 to the Baltimore Orioles. New York would rather have SP CC Sabathia start on regular rest for a potential Game 5 Friday, Oct. 12, and they don't want to pitch SP Andy Pettitte on short rest.

SP | Felix Hernandez | Seattle Mariners | Fantasy,
There have been reports that the Seattle Mariners are "working pretty hard" on a contract extension for SP Felix Hernandez that "may have something done right before or after the World Series." However, general manager Jack Zduriencik isn't commenting on the reports. Hernandez has two years and $40.5 million remaining on his current five-year, $78 million deal that was signed in 2010.

SP | Stephen Strasburg | Washington Nationals | Fantasy, Washington Nationals players are still bitter over the team's decision to shut down SP Stephen Strasburg this year. "If we had (Strasburg), we'd be up 2-0," an anonymous player said.

RP | Miguel Gonzalez | Baltimore Orioles | Fantasy, Baltimore Orioles SP Miguel Gonzalez was outstanding in his first career postseason start in Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees Wednesday, Oct. 10. He allowed just one earned run, five hits and no walks with eight strikeouts over seven innings in a no-decision. Gonzalez watched the bullpen blow a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning, and then the team ended up losing in 12 frames.

RP | Jim Johnson | Baltimore Orioles | Fantasy, Baltimore Orioles RP Jim Johnson allowed a game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees Wednesday, Oct. 10. It was his second blown save of the series.

RP | Sergio Romo | San Francisco Giants | Fantasy, San Francisco Giants RP Sergio Romo said he's available to pitch in Game 4 of the Division Series against the Cincinnati Reds Wednesday, Oct. 10, despite tossing two scoreless innings in Game 3. It was only the second time all year that Romo threw two innings in an outing.